Marina Bay at a glance
Marina Bay is a stretch of water at the southern edge of Singapore's city centre, ringed by a promenade, parks, bridges and the skyline of the financial district. It looks like a natural harbour, but most of the land around it is new. Land reclamation for the extension of the city centre began in 1971, the last 38 hectares at Bayfront were added in 1994, and by the end of the 1990s the development area covered 360 hectares. Marina Barrage later dammed the Marina Channel, which turned the bay into a freshwater reservoir in 2010.
For a visit, that history means one thing: everything is close together and easy to link on foot. The Merlion, the Esplanade, the Helix Bridge, the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay all sit within a short walk or one MRT stop of each other. You can see the main sights in a day, or spread them over several evenings and mornings if you prefer a slower pace.
Our picks: Marina Bay tours and tickets
Take an entry ticket if you want to plan the gardens yourself, and the guided night tour if you want the domes, the Supertree Grove and Garden Rhapsody with a guide. The street food tour includes hawker tastings; the open-top bus tour includes a satay tasting at Lau Pa Sat and Garden Rhapsody. The city drive lists the vehicle only.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided street food tour at night
- English-speaking guide
- 9 to 10 hawker tastings
- Food and drinks included
The tour ends at Lau Pa Sat. Transport, extra food and drinks and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Gardens by the Bay night tour with the domes and Garden Rhapsody
- Flower Dome and Cloud Forest
- Supertree Grove
- Garden Rhapsody
A guide leads the tour, which also includes a walk around Dragonfly Lake. Hotel pickup and drop-off come with that option only.
Check availability →
Open-top bus night tour with Garden Rhapsody
- Open-top double decker bus
- Sunset view at Marina Barrage
- Satay tasting at Lau Pa Sat
An English-speaking guide comes along, and the tour ends with the Garden Rhapsody show at Gardens by the Bay.
Check availability →
Singapore city tour with Gardens by the Bay
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Fuel surcharge
- Parking fees
The listed services cover the vehicle, fuel and parking. Admission tickets are not listed, so check whether you need to buy your gardens tickets separately.
Check availability →
Gardens by the Bay admission e-ticket
- Gardens by the Bay admission
- Areas of your chosen option
- Shuttle if selected
You show the supplier's e-ticket at the entrance. A ticket for the OCBC Skyway is extra and is sold for cash only at the ticketing hub or near the Skyway entrance.
Check availability →
Gardens by the Bay entry ticket with options
- Admission to the areas you select
- Shuttle service if selected
- Audio tour if selected
The areas, the shuttle and the audio tour depend on the option you pick, so compare the options before you book. Personal expenses are extra.
Check availability →Gardens by the Bay tickets and tours
Entry tickets, evening tours with Garden Rhapsody, walks along the waterfront and street food after dark, with live prices and availability.
What to do around Marina Bay
The sights in short, each with its own page.
Most visitors build a day around three things: Gardens by the Bay with its two cooled domes and the tall Supertrees, the walk along the water, and a ride or cruise that shows the bay from a new angle. The Singapore Flyer lifts you 165 m above the water, and a Singapore river cruise runs from Clarke Quay and Boat Quay out to the bay. Marina Barrage has a grass roof that is popular for picnics and kite flying by day.
If you are searching for Singapore sights in general, the bay is only one part of the city, but it is the part where a lot of them meet. Give yourself at least half a day for the gardens alone, since the two domes, the Supertree Grove and the Skyway are separate tickets or separate stops.
The Waterfront Promenade
The waterfront promenade runs for 3.5 km around the bay and was finished in 2010, the same year as the Helix Bridge. A common route starts at Merlion Park on the river mouth, crosses the Jubilee Bridge to the Esplanade, continues along the water past the Singapore Flyer and then reaches the Helix Bridge, which links Marina Centre with Bayfront. From there it is a short step to Gardens by the Bay.
As a rough guide, the loop takes roughly an hour at an easy pace without stops, so plan more if you want to take photos, sit down for a drink or visit the Esplanade roof terrace. Since 4 May 2026, construction work near the gardens has meant a small detour for pedestrians, and cycling is not allowed on that stretch. Follow the signs and expect a few extra minutes.
Marina Bay at night
Why the evening is worth planning.
After sunset the temperature drops a little and the bay changes. At Gardens by the Bay, Garden Rhapsody plays twice every evening, at 19:45 and 20:45, among the Supertrees in the Supertree Grove. The Supertrees stay lit until 23:30. Merlion Park never closes, so a late stroll to the statue works at any hour, and the Outdoor Gardens are open from 05:00 to 02:00. The domes and the attractions in the gardens close around 21:00, so visit them earlier in the day and keep the evening for the outdoor parts.
If you would rather have someone to show you the way, a guided evening tour of the gardens covers the domes, the Supertree Grove and Garden Rhapsody, and a street food walk in the evening runs from Clarke Quay to the Lau Pa Sat hawker market. Our Supertree Grove page has the show times and the programme changes for the coming weeks.
Getting around by MRT
The stations that serve the bay.
Six MRT stations cover the bay: Bayfront for Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay at the south-western corner, Downtown for the business district, Promenade for Marina Centre and the Flyer, Esplanade for the theatres and the roof terrace, and Raffles Place for Merlion Park and the river mouth. Several of them are only one stop apart, and the walk between them is short and flat. Our getting there page explains the route from Changi Airport and the stations in more detail.
A foreign contactless bank card works at the gates, but check the daily handling fee your card issuer and the transit operator charge before you rely on it for several trips a day.
Tours, tickets and the main sights
Pick a topic and read the details.
Marina Bay tours
City walks, street food after dark and Gardens by the Bay with a guide.
Gardens by the Bay
Tickets, opening hours, maintenance days and what to see.
Flower Dome and Cloud Forest
The combined ticket, the rules inside and the closure days.
Supertree Grove
Garden Rhapsody times, the Skyway and the Observatory.
Things to do in Marina Bay
The Esplanade, the Fullerton Building, a design museum and festivals.
Merlion Park
The statue, opening hours and the closure in late November.
Helix Bridge
The steel spiral, the Jubilee Bridge and the walking route.
Marina Barrage
The grass roof, the water gallery and how the barrage works.
Singapore Flyer
Ticket prices, hours and the view from 165 m.
Singapore river cruise
Jetties, ticket options and the New Year's Eve cruise.
Weather and best time
Monthly climate figures and the two monsoon seasons.
Where to stay
Which district suits your trip, from Downtown to Bugis.
Changi Airport to Marina Bay
Taxi, transfer and MRT from the airport.
History of Marina Bay
Land reclamation, the Merlion and the barrage.
Good to know before you go
Short notes that save you a wasted trip.
Some places never close, others close early
Merlion Park and the Green Roof at Marina Barrage are open 24 hours. The Outdoor Gardens are open from 05:00 to 02:00, while the domes run from 09:00 to 21:00 with last entry earlier. Check the closing time of each attraction before you plan the evening.
Gardens hours →Maintenance days close single attractions
As of October 2026, Flower Dome is closed on 16 November and Cloud Forest on 17 November. The Skyway and the Observatory each have their own dates. On such days one dome stays open and a single ticket is sold for it.
Dome closure days →A detour near the gardens since 4 May 2026
Construction work has diverted the waterfront promenade at the gardens. Walkers can pass with a small detour, cyclists cannot use that stretch. No end date has been published, so allow a few extra minutes.
Walking route →The main Merlion is covered for three days in November
The big statue is under scaffolding from 24 to 26 November 2026 for cleaning and repair. The small statue in the park stays open as a photo spot.
Merlion Park →Otters live along the bay
Wild otters sometimes appear on the promenade. Keep your distance, do not touch, chase or feed them, switch off the flash and keep dogs close on the lead.
Things to do →No swimming in the reservoir
Swimming, paddling and washing are not allowed in the reservoir, and the bay is not a bathing place. Use the promenade, the parks and the roof instead.
Marina Barrage →Frequently asked questions
Is Marina Bay worth visiting?
Yes, if you like walking by the water, gardens and a good city view. A day covers the promenade, the Merlion and the gardens, and the evening adds Garden Rhapsody. If you only have a few hours, go to Gardens by the Bay and walk the stretch to the Helix Bridge.
Is Marina Bay free to visit?
Walking the promenade, Merlion Park, the Green Roof at Marina Barrage and the ground level of the Supertree Grove cost nothing. The domes, the Skyway, the Supertree Observatory, the Singapore Flyer and boat rides need a ticket. During paid events such as a Christmas market, entry to the Grove itself can also be charged.
How many days do I need?
One full day covers the main sights. Two half days work better if you want the gardens in the morning and a quiet evening on the promenade, or if you want to add the river cruise and the Flyer without hurrying.
Which MRT station is closest to Gardens by the Bay?
Bayfront. From there you walk into the gardens in a few minutes. Marina Bay station is another option if you are coming from the north-south line.
Is this website run by the authorities or the attractions?
No. Marina-bay.org is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Singapore Tourism Board, Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer or Changi Airport.